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19 May 2026, 21:35
From teen hacker to Iron Dome researcher: founder raises $28M to build AI-powered email security platform
BitcoinWorld From teen hacker to Iron Dome researcher: founder raises $28M to build AI-powered email security platform Shay Shwartz knows email phishing from both sides. As a teenager, he made money as a hacker — until he was caught at age 16. That turning point led him to use his skills defensively, eventually spending a decade in elite Israeli defense and intelligence units, including work tied to the Iron Dome missile defense system. Now, two years after founding his own startup, he is stepping into the spotlight with a $28 million funding round to combat a new wave of AI-generated email threats. From Iron Dome to inbox defense Shwartz’s journey is unusual even by cybersecurity standards. After his teenage hacking stint, he shifted to defensive roles, leading major projects for Israel’s top cyber units. He later joined Axis, a startup later acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. But the itch to build his own company never faded. In 2023, he launched Ocean, an agentic email security platform designed specifically to counter AI-powered phishing attacks. The company emerged from stealth mode with $28 million in total funding. Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round, with participation from Picture Capital and Cerca Partners. The investor list also includes high-profile angel investors: Wiz co-founder and CEO Assaf Rappaport, and Armis co-founders Yevgeny Dibrov and Nadir Izrael — the latter company recently sold to ServiceNow for $7.75 billion. Why AI phishing requires a new approach Traditional email security vendors like Proofpoint and Mimecast, along with newer players like Abnormal Security, are effective against standard phishing. But Shwartz argues that generative AI has fundamentally changed the threat landscape. In the past, spear-phishing required significant manual research and effort, limiting its scale. AI automates the entire process. “AI just made the entire process automatic, so the scale is much, much bigger now,” Shwartz told Bitcoin World. “I can instruct LLM to go and understand exactly who you are, harvest large amount of public information, and create those phishing attacks very targeted against you.” Ocean claims its platform uses a small language model — not a massive general-purpose LLM — to analyze the context of every incoming email. It evaluates the sender’s intent against the recipient’s organizational role, communication history, and typical behavior patterns. The system is already processing billions of emails monthly for customers including Kayak, Kingston Technology, and Headspace. How agentic security differs from traditional filters Traditional email filters rely on rules, reputation scoring, and known threat signatures. Ocean’s approach is agentic: the system actively reasons about each email’s context rather than matching it against a database of known attacks. Shwartz describes it as “a guard in every door.” The model is trained to detect impersonation, social engineering, and subtle anomalies that indicate an AI-generated attack, even if the email contains no malicious links or attachments. Market implications and competitive landscape The email security market is crowded, but AI-powered threats are creating a new category of defense. According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, phishing remains the most common vector for initial access, and AI-generated phishing emails are becoming harder to distinguish from legitimate messages. Ocean’s funding round, backed by prominent cybersecurity founders, signals that investors see agentic security as a necessary evolution. Shwartz’s background — from hacker to Iron Dome researcher to founder — gives the company a credibility that matters in the security industry. His co-founder and CTO, Oran Moyal, brings additional technical depth. The company plans to use the funding to expand its engineering team and accelerate product development. Conclusion Ocean’s emergence reflects a broader shift in cybersecurity: as attackers adopt AI, defenders must do the same. Shwartz’s personal story — from teenage hacker to building a platform backed by some of the most successful founders in Israeli cybersecurity — adds a compelling narrative to a serious technological challenge. Whether Ocean can carve out a significant share of the email security market remains to be seen, but its approach and backing suggest it is a company worth watching. FAQs Q1: What makes Ocean different from existing email security platforms? Ocean uses a proprietary small language model to analyze the context of each email, focusing on sender intent and organizational behavior, rather than relying on rules or known threat signatures. This is designed to catch AI-generated spear-phishing attacks that traditional filters may miss. Q2: How much funding has Ocean raised and who invested? Ocean raised $28 million in total funding, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Picture Capital and Cerca Partners. Angel investors include Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport and Armis co-founders Yevgeny Dibrov and Nadir Izrael. Q3: Is Ocean currently available for businesses? Yes, Ocean is already processing billions of emails per month for customers including Kayak, Kingston Technology, and Headspace. The company emerged from stealth mode with the funding announcement and is actively onboarding new clients. This post From teen hacker to Iron Dome researcher: founder raises $28M to build AI-powered email security platform first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
19 May 2026, 21:31
US Dollar Surges on Strong ADP Jobs Data and Trump’s Renewed Iran Rhetoric
BitcoinWorld US Dollar Surges on Strong ADP Jobs Data and Trump’s Renewed Iran Rhetoric The US Dollar strengthened broadly during Wednesday’s trading session, driven by a combination of robust labor market data and heightened geopolitical rhetoric from former President Donald Trump regarding Iran. The currency’s rally reflects a market recalibrating expectations for Federal Reserve policy while pricing in a potential risk premium tied to Middle East tensions. ADP Employment Data Exceeds Expectations The ADP National Employment Report showed that private sector payrolls increased by 192,000 in March, comfortably above the consensus estimate of 148,000. The data, often viewed as a precursor to the official nonfarm payrolls report, suggests the labor market remains resilient despite elevated interest rates. This has reduced expectations for near-term rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, providing a significant tailwind for the greenback. Market-implied probabilities for a rate cut at the Fed’s May meeting fell sharply following the release, with traders now pricing in a greater chance of rates remaining on hold. The dollar index (DXY) climbed above the 104.50 level, its highest in two weeks, as short-term Treasury yields rose in sympathy with the stronger employment data. Trump’s Iran Remarks Add Geopolitical Premium Adding to the dollar’s momentum, former President Trump made a series of pointed remarks regarding Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities during a campaign event in Ohio. While the statements did not outline specific policy actions, they reintroduced uncertainty around US-Iran relations, which had been relatively quiet in recent months. Geopolitical risk often benefits the US Dollar due to its status as a global safe-haven currency. Traders moved to reduce exposure to risk-sensitive currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars, while the Japanese yen and Swiss franc also saw mixed demand. The euro and British pound both retreated against the greenback, with EUR/USD slipping below 1.0800. Market Implications for Forex Traders The dual catalysts — strong data and geopolitical headlines — create a complex environment for currency traders. The dollar’s rally may have further room to run if Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report confirms the strength seen in the ADP data. However, any de-escalation in rhetoric regarding Iran could quickly unwind the geopolitical premium. Emerging market currencies are particularly vulnerable in this environment, as a stronger dollar and higher US yields tend to draw capital away from riskier assets. The Mexican peso and South African rand were among the worst performers against the dollar on Wednesday. Conclusion The US Dollar’s rally reflects a market reacting to tangible economic strength and renewed geopolitical uncertainty. Traders should monitor the upcoming nonfarm payrolls release and any further statements from political figures regarding Iran. The combination of these factors suggests continued volatility in major currency pairs, with the dollar maintaining a bullish bias in the near term. FAQs Q1: What is the ADP employment report and why does it matter for forex? The ADP National Employment Report measures changes in private sector payrolls in the US. It is closely watched by forex traders as a leading indicator for the official nonfarm payrolls report and can influence expectations for Federal Reserve monetary policy, which directly impacts currency values. Q2: How do geopolitical tensions affect the US Dollar? The US Dollar is considered a safe-haven currency. During periods of geopolitical uncertainty or conflict, global investors often buy dollars as a store of value, leading to an appreciation of the currency against riskier counterparts. Q3: What is the relationship between interest rate expectations and the dollar? Higher interest rates or expectations of future rate hikes make holding US Dollar-denominated assets more attractive to foreign investors, increasing demand for the currency. Conversely, expectations of rate cuts tend to weaken the dollar. This post US Dollar Surges on Strong ADP Jobs Data and Trump’s Renewed Iran Rhetoric first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
19 May 2026, 21:30
Solana Strengthens RWA Presence With Explosive Growth In Value
Despite its consistent downside price action, the Solana network remains unshaken, with activity continuing to grow significantly. One of the areas the SOL network is currently seeing massive growth again is its Real-World Asset (RWA) ecosystem. RWA Value On The Solana Network Climbs Sharply Solana is gaining the community’s attention once again, even with its price pulling back to the $85 mark. Underneath its sideways price action over the past few weeks, the SOL network is rapidly expanding its footprint in the Real World Asset sector. As tokenization gains major traction in the crypto space, the value of tokenized assets on the SOL network has seen explosive growth. A recent report from Solana’s official page on the X platform reveals that its RWA value has surged to over $2.8 billion, representing a new all-time high. This figure marks yet another major milestone for the leading network, reinforcing its position in the blockchain sector. The rapid expansion demonstrates the growing interest in bringing conventional financial products such as treasuries and other yield-bearing assets to the blockchain. SOL attracting this kind of massive value in RWA is largely due to its fast transaction speed and lower costs. As institutional and developer activity around RWAs accelerates, this figure is expected to expand in the future. SOL Perp Volume Is Trending At Its Highest Level Yet In other areas, such as Perpetual (Perp) futures volume, the Solana network is also witnessing substantial growth. David Alexander, an on-chain data expert, reported that SOL’s perp volume has climbed sharply, opening the week at an all-time high. Such development has led to a significant rise in trader engagement and speculative activity, with derivatives markets becoming more active in response to SOL’s price fluctuations. According to the data, the network is now handling about $20 billion in total perp volume, coming second only to Hyperliquid (HYPE) , which currently handles over $42 billion. However, open interest across Solana perps is valued at just $223 million compared to the $9 billion of Hyperliquid. Alexander highlighted that the majority of SOL’s perp volume was led by GMTrade, a leading RWA perp DEX, with $16 billion. Others include Pacifica and Jupiter Exchange, scooping up $2.9 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. This milestone comes just a few days after Solana perp volume saw its highest daily perp volume, recording over $4.7 billion in a single day, representing a +500% MoM. At the time of the achievement, SOL accounted for 21% of all perp activity , still only behind Hyperliquid’s 36%. In times of increased volatility and velocity like the current market state, rising perp volume is sometimes seen as an indication of increasing market interest and liquidity. At the time of writing, SOL’s price was trading at $85, demonstrating a 0.41% increase over the last 24 hours. Its trading volume has also slightly risen by over 1.61% within the same time frame.
19 May 2026, 21:28
Bitcoin Eyes $68K Support as $1.6B ETF Outflows Mount, K33 Calls $60K Bottom
Bitcoin News Bitcoin traders are repositioning around lower support zones as derivatives flow and order book data reveal heavy buyer interest concentrated in the $68,000 to $70,000 region. The visi...
19 May 2026, 21:28
Tether holds 148 tons of gold as stablecoins face 13% risk
🪙 Tether’s reserves soared to 148 tons of gold, valued at $23 billion, as private stablecoins faced scrutiny over a potential 13% loss. 🔔 $USDT and USDC are under fire for holding volatile reserves like Bitcoin and gold, raising hedge fund comparisons. ⚠️ Critical data: European regulators may soon enforce tough rules on stablecoin issuers to ensure transparency and minimize systemic risk. Continue Reading: Tether holds 148 tons of gold as stablecoins face 13% risk The post Tether holds 148 tons of gold as stablecoins face 13% risk appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
19 May 2026, 21:25
Union Investment Warns USDT and USDC Operate Like ‘Speculative Stealth Hedge Funds’
BitcoinWorld Union Investment Warns USDT and USDC Operate Like ‘Speculative Stealth Hedge Funds’ German asset management giant Union Investment has issued a sharp critique of the world’s largest stablecoins, Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), arguing that their reserve structures effectively transform them into highly speculative, unregulated hedge funds. The firm’s analysis, shared in a recent market commentary, highlights what it sees as a fundamental structural flaw in private stablecoins that could pose severe risks to corporate treasuries and institutional investors. Stablecoins or Stealth Hedge Funds? Union Investment’s central argument is that the reserve assets backing USDT and USDC — which include Bitcoin, gold, and other volatile holdings — undermine their primary function as stable, low-risk digital dollars. The firm contends that this asset composition turns the stablecoins into “stealth hedge funds,” where the value of the reserve is subject to the same market swings as the assets they are meant to stabilize. “The inclusion of Bitcoin and gold in reserve portfolios introduces a layer of speculation that is incompatible with the promise of a stable store of value,” the report stated. Margin Call Risk for Corporate Finance Teams The critique is particularly pointed regarding the potential for sudden, severe losses. Union Investment warned that during periods of market volatility, a sharp decline in the value of reserve assets could trigger a situation analogous to a margin call for corporate finance teams or institutional investors holding these stablecoins. This could force rapid liquidations or capital shortfalls at the worst possible time, amplifying systemic risk rather than providing the safe harbor stablecoins are marketed as. The firm’s analysis draws on publicly available attestations and market data, though it notes that full transparency on reserve composition remains a persistent issue. Broader Implications for Institutional Adoption This criticism comes at a critical juncture for the digital asset industry. Major financial institutions and corporations have increasingly considered integrating stablecoins into their treasury operations and payment systems for efficiency gains. Union Investment’s warning may slow this adoption, as risk-averse treasurers reassess the counterparty risk embedded in USDT and USDC. The firm’s stance also adds weight to calls for stricter regulatory oversight, particularly around reserve disclosure requirements and asset segregation. Conclusion Union Investment’s characterization of USDT and USDC as speculative hedge funds represents a significant escalation in the debate over stablecoin safety. By highlighting the inherent conflict between volatile reserve assets and the promise of stability, the firm raises questions that go to the heart of stablecoin utility. For corporate finance teams and institutional investors, the message is clear: the risk profile of these digital assets may be far more complex than their stablecoin label suggests. The coming months will likely see increased regulatory scrutiny and a push for more conservative reserve management as the industry grapples with these structural criticisms. FAQs Q1: What did Union Investment specifically say about USDT and USDC? Union Investment argued that the reserve assets backing these stablecoins, including Bitcoin and gold, effectively turn them into speculative, unregulated hedge funds rather than stable digital dollars. Q2: What is the “margin call” risk Union Investment warned about? The firm warned that during market volatility, a drop in reserve asset value could force sudden liquidations or capital shortfalls for holders, similar to a margin call, amplifying systemic risk. Q3: Why does this criticism matter for the crypto industry? It challenges the fundamental premise of stablecoin safety, potentially slowing institutional adoption and increasing pressure for stricter regulatory oversight on reserve transparency and asset composition. This post Union Investment Warns USDT and USDC Operate Like ‘Speculative Stealth Hedge Funds’ first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
